Two 256gb SSD or One 500gb SSD

[JDG14]

Hi guys,

I'm planning to have an SSD for my current PC, and I want to know which capacity should I get, a 2x 256gb SAMSUNG PRO 840 or a 500GB Crucial BX100?
Samsung 840 PRO 256gb is worth around $50 dollars each, while Crucial BX100 500GB cost around $100. Note that both of this SSDs being sold to me is secondhand.

All Three SSD have 100% Health and Performance based on CrystalDiskInfo. Is there any software should I let them use to check if the SSD's health is still 100% or that applicatio is already enough?

I know that before, Samsung PRO Series SSD were one of the best SSD in their prime. I'm not so sure about the BX100.

Any opinion will be nice. Thanks alot for this website, I always learn something new everytime I post a thread here.

Cheers! 😀

 

[PC Tailor]

Go for 1 big one, as large storage size SSDs also benefit from increased speed than smaller SSDs due to the number of NAND chips that are installed in larger sizes.

On an organisational aspect, you generally get more benefit from having centralised OS and applications also.

Crucial are still excellent SSDs in my opinion, but Samsung still generally dominate the SSD market. SanDisk are also a great alternative.

 

[chenw]

I personally recommend 2, unless you already have another drive in your computer.

Reason: One SSD will be used as a dedicated OS drive, and move your documents folder onto the other drive. If your OS goes RIP, at least you can wipe the OS drive without any regard, since your main irreplaceable documents will be on the other drive, which will not be affected by your formatting. Your programs folder can be in the OS drive for convenience.

Smaller drives will be slower than big drives, by and large, but most often it's the write speed that's most affected, while read speed is relatively similar to both, either will be much faster than a spinning platter.

 

[JDG14]

Go for 1 big one, as large storage size SSDs also benefit from increased speed than smaller SSDs due to the number of NAND chips that are installed in larger sizes.

On an organisational aspect, you generally get more benefit from having centralised OS and applications also.

Crucial are still excellent SSDs in my opinion, but Samsung still generally dominate the SSD market. SanDisk are also a great alternative.

Well, I'm kinda leaning on the 500gb but I'm thinking also on the 256gb. Like I'm gonna buy the first one today then the other maybe next week or two. But overall, both SSD brand/model are good?

 

[JDG14]

I personally recommend 2, unless you already have another drive in your computer.

Reason: One SSD will be used as a dedicated OS drive, and move your documents folder onto the other drive. If your OS goes RIP, at least you can wipe the OS drive without any regard, since your main irreplaceable documents will be on the other drive, which will not be affected by your formatting. Your programs folder can be in the OS drive for convenience.

Smaller drives will be slower than big drives, by and large, but most often it's the write speed that's most affected, while read speed is relatively similar to both, either will be much faster than a spinning platter.

Well, with regards with the other drive, I have a 1tb Seagate Barracuda and that's it. I have an NZXT H440 v2 case so if you're familiar with the case, you can see that there is a 2.5mm bay for SSD above the shroud. That's where I'm going to place my SSD (obviously), I'm also planning to put all of my Games and Apps in the SSD thta's why I've decide to get a bigger storage like 500gb above. So you think I should just go with two 256gb? I'm really torn right now haha

 

[PC Tailor]

Personally, if you're planning on using 1 SSD for apps, and then another for documents etc. The second SSD is wasted capability. Your SSD will improve general OS performance and generally decrease loading times of application installed on them.

If you wanted a dual storage drive set up, one for programs, another for documents and personal files, then you'd best go for 1 SSD and 1 HDD. It saves you much more money and you get much more drive space for money with a HDD.

So IMO, to opt for 2 SSDs and have one for programs, and another for documents, is a complete waste of the SSDs capability. Use a HDD for documentation, personal files and data backup as HDDs are more than fast enough for this type of storage, and much more GB per £/$.

Especially if you already have a 1TB HDD. If you want 500GB of storage space additional, IMO I would opt for the larger one, it has slightly improved performance, and organisationally, you keep all of your programes in one place, and ultimately less disks to manage, then use the HDD for documentation and performing backups of your SSD (Chenw raises a good point that it's always good to have another drive with a backup).

 

[JDG14]

Personally, if you're planning on using 1 SSD for apps, and then another for documents etc. The second SSD is wasted capability. Your SSD will improve general OS performance and generally decrease loading times of application installed on them.

If you wanted a dual storage drive set up, one for programs, another for documents and personal files, then you'd best go for 1 SSD and 1 HDD. It saves you much more money and you get much more drive space for money with a HDD.

So IMO, to opt for 2 SSDs and have one for programs, and another for documents, is a complete waste of the SSDs capability. Use a HDD for documentation, personal files and data backup as HDDs are more than fast enough for this type of storage, and much more GB per £/$.

Especially if you already have a 1TB HDD. If you want 500GB of storage space additional, IMO I would opt for the larger one, it has slightly improved performance, and organisationally, you keep all of your programes in one place, and ultimately less disks to manage, then use the HDD for documentation and performing backups of your SSD (Chenw raises a good point that it's always good to have another drive with a backup).

Thanks for the detailed question 😀 It's just so happened that the 500gb was already sold 🙁 So now I'm opting for the 256gb Samsung 840 Pro, which I forgot to tell you guys, is an OEM version. Is there any significant difference between the retail and oem version? Is buying an OEM version of 840 Pro a bad Idea and I should just spend my money elsewhere?